While driving home from a networking event the other night and reflecting on my experiences of the evening, I thought about the 5 key tips below. I quickly jotted them down in my notebook before going to sleep, then filled them in over the next couple days as a reminder to myself…and to those of you on the path of life with me — here you go:
1) Be Yourself — you fill a unique space in the universe. No one else can be you. Your story and your journey add another unique hue to the rainbow of stories being created, and will have a unique impact on others’ lives. Owning your own value and becoming comfortable with yourself is a great starting point for connecting with others, and in itself is a gift to those around you.
2) Develop Yourself — continually invest in and develop yourself. Always be learning, practicing, & developing new insights & skills as you master your craft & the arena you’ve chosen to play in. This practice will build your self-confidence, effectiveness, and the tangible value you can contribute to others.
3) Connect & Contribute Value — become a person of value — someone who’s interested in others and sincerely seeking to add value to their lives, even if simply by noticing & affirming them.
Asking this simple question, “What can I contribute to this person’s life (or business) today?” is powerful. The answer may simply be a listening ear, a warm acknowledgement – a sense, as I heard Dave Blanchard mention recently, that “you matter” — or it could be something tangible such as a referral, a book or resource, or a practical tip or idea.
4) Invite with Abandon — this one is key to network marketers, but also applies to anyone who’s looking to invite partners or followers to an event, experience, or cause. There is a certain freedom to opening a door of possibility for people and then letting them decide whether they want to walk through.
5) Be unattached & joyful — this one complements #4 — being “unattached” to how a person will respond enables you to be joyful & continue moving forward regardless of potential disappointments or unexpected negativity, and a joyful attitude is always uplifting and attractive. In addition, people appreciate having their own freedom and autonomy honored, and that can actually draw them closer to you rather than pushing them away.
Finally, here’s a “Bonus” tip:
**Be Appreciative**
This tip alone will serve you both in life and business and especially in relating to people. Being appreciative is something you can practice just like a golf swing. Begin with your attitude and the words you say to yourself, and then extend this practice to the words and attitude you share with others. Being appreciative will put you in a state that’s attractive and a joy to be around…and no matter what, you’ll feel better…which is what all of us are seeking daily, anyway — to feel good about ourselves and others.
So there you have it — five keys and a bonus one for networking and all of life.
Which one do you choose to focus on today?